Apparatus and method for improving ventricular function

Abstract

An approach is disclosed for improving ventricular function of a patient's heart. In one example, an implantable apparatus includes an inflow conduit having first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a sidewall portion. An inflow valve is operatively associated with the inflow conduit to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood through the inflow conduit from the first end to the second end of the inflow conduit. A pouch has an interior chamber that defines a volume. The inflow conduit is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the pouch. An outflow conduit is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the pouch to permit substantially free flow of fluid from the interior chamber of the pouch and into the outflow conduit, which terminates in an outflow annulus spaced from the pouch.

1 . An implantable apparatus, comprising: 
 an inflow conduit having first and second ends spaced apart from each other by a sidewall portion;    an inflow valve operatively associated with the inflow conduit to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood through the inflow conduit from the first end to the second end of the inflow conduit;    a pouch having an interior chamber that defines a volume, the inflow conduit being in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the pouch; and    an outflow conduit in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the pouch to permit substantially free flow of fluid from the interior chamber of the pouch and into the outflow conduit, which terminates in an outflow annulus spaced from the pouch.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pouch, the inflow conduit, and the outflow conduit comprises a biological material.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, the second end of the inflow conduit is connected to the pouch and the outflow conduit is connected to the pouch, each of the inflow conduit and the outflow conduit having a central longitudinal axis that is substantially transverse to an exterior surface of the pouch.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of the inflow conduit and the central longitudinal axis of the outflow conduit define an angle that is generally acute.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch comprises at least one sheet of a biological material configured to provide the interior chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one sheet of biological material further comprises a pair of substantially calotte-shaped members attached together near a perimeter thereof to provide the interior chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one sheet of biological material further comprises animal pericardium.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an outflow valve operatively associated with the outflow conduit to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood from within the internal chamber of the pouch and through outflow conduit.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the outflow valve is located within the outflow conduit spaced from an end of the outflow conduit that is attached to the pouch.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the outflow valve further comprises one of a biological heart valve prosthesis, a mechanical heart valve prosthesis and a bio-mechanical heart valve prosthesis.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the inflow conduit defines a valve wall portion in which the inflow valve is located.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inflow valve further comprises one of a biological heart valve prosthesis, a mechanical heart valve prosthesis and a bio-mechanical heart valve prosthesis.  
   
   
       14 . An implantable apparatus for improving ventricular function, comprising: 
 means for limiting a volume of blood received within an enlarged ventricle of the patient's heart;    means for providing for substantially unidirectional flow of blood into the means for limiting;    means for providing a path for flow of blood from within the means for limiting and into an aorta of the patient's heart; and    means, located within the means for providing a path, for providing for substantially unidirectional flow of blood out of the means for limiting and into the aorta.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising means for tethering a portion of the means for limiting relative to cardiac tissue of the patient's heart so as to maintain a desired configuration of the means for limiting.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the means for limiting further comprises a pouch formed of at least one sheet of a biological material configured to receive a volume of blood in the interior chamber thereof.  
   
   
       17 . A method for improving ventricular function of a heart, comprising: 
 implanting a pouch in a ventricle of the heart, the pouch including an interior chamber that defines a volume;    mounting an inflow valve at a mitral position of the heart, the inflow valve being in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the pouch to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood from an atrium of the heart through the inflow valve and into the interior chamber of the implanted pouch; and    attaching an outflow conduit, which is in fluid communications with the interior chamber of the implanted pouch, near an aortic annulus to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood from the interior chamber of the pouch and into the aorta of the heart.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein an outflow valve is operatively connected to the outflow conduit to provide for the substantially unidirectional flow of blood from the interior chamber of the pouch into the aorta.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising tethering an exterior of the sidewall of the pouch relative to surrounding cardiac muscle.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing blood from a space in the ventricle between the pouch and surrounding cardiac tissue to facilitate self-remodeling of the heart.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising attaching at least one conduit between the ventricle and the atrium to provide a path for flow of blood from the space in the ventricle to the atrium.